The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) is respected throughout the agriculture industry as a support system for growers and retailers, and that support has been a key factor behind Bayer’s continued sponsorship of the organization. “ARA is very important to us as a supplier of products for farmers and growers,” says Bayer Strategic Business Lead Al Luke during an interview at …
Meet The 2016 ARA Retailer of the Year
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) presented this year’s Ag Retailer of the Year Award during the the ARA Conference & Expo to Gar Tootelian, of central California. The award, sponsored by Monsanto, ARA, and AgProfessional magazine, is highly esteemed by the industry and honors the very best among ag retailers. Gar Tootelian was represented at the ceremony by president Greg …
FMC & ARA Hosting Safety Planning Workshop
FMC Corporation has shown tremendous continued support for the Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) through the company’s sponsorship of the ARA Conference & Expo. In the new year, FMC will also sponsor a workshop with ARA that will focus on preparing, responding, and sustaining a crisis plan. This new workshop stems from a crisis communications workshop that FMC has held for …
Creating Disney Magic At #ARA2016
The Agricultural Retailers Association (ARA) Conference had a magical closing statement to end this year’s sessions with Lee Cockerell, retired Executive Vice President of Walt Disney World giving a closing address titled “You Can create Disney Magic Too.” Cockerell’s address focused on the factors he believes are the key to running a successful business: “It’s not magic that makes Disney …
Poll Shows Support for Water Infrastructure Bill
A national poll released by the Association of Equipment Manufacturers (AEM) found that voters strongly support federal funding for water pipelines and waterways and resources that prevent drinking water contamination crises, like those that occurred in Flint, MI. Congress reached an agreement on the legislation late yesterday, but still have funding issues to work out. These findings were part of …
Wisconsin GROWMARK Essay Winner Announced
GROWMARK has announced the Wisconsin state winner of their 2017 essay contest. FFA members competed on the theme “What value do cooperatives provide to today’s farmers?” Casey Groening’s submission earned him the top prize for responses like this: “The value of cooperatives is immensely important to today’s farmers, and is more than what is seen at a business level. Farmers …
Political Insights from #ARA2016 Keynote
Stuart Rothenberg knows the word “nonpartisan” is suspect, but as the Founding Editor of The Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, that’s what he strives to be. In his recent keynote address to the members of the Agricultural Retailers Association meeting this week in Orlando, Rothenberg talked about the recent Presidential election, and how it was big in more ways than …
Two Years of Progress for ResponsibleAg
ResponsibleAg began their safety compliance mission two years ago, and already the program has signed up 2,284 locations, Bill Qualls reported at the Agricultural Retailers Association Conference & Expo. The numbers reflect the importance of safety to members of the industry, Qualls asserts, and it is his job to make sure they’re well informed. “My goal is to help each …
CEO Daren Coppock Addresses #ARA2016
The Agricultural Retailers Association Convention & Expo heard from CEO, Daren Coppock with the President’s report and review of the year. He couldn’t begin without talking about the election, Coppock said. “This opens up some unexpected avenues for us. It was a surprising outcome in a number of ways. But if we look at implications for our industry there are …
Florida FFA President Welcomes #ARA2016 Members
Who better to welcome members of the Agricultural Retailers Association to Florida for their annual conference than William Jameson, the Florida State FFA President and symbol of agriculture’s future? Florida stands tall in the agriculture industry, growing more than 300 types of commodities from fresh produce like grapefruit and sweet corn to beef and field crops. The state also boasts …